comment

STAMFORD, Conn. — Vincent Urbanowski, a math teacher at the Academy of Information Technology & Engineering and the Stamford teacher of the year, has been selected as a Connecticut Teacher of the Year Semifinalist.

“I’m so thankful to have been chosen to participate at the state level and am honored to be in the company of so many outstanding teachers,” said Urbanowski. “The work we’re doing for our kids in Stamford is innovative, demanding and rewarding. I welcome the opportunity to share it as a representative of the profession and our district’s collective faculty.”

As one of only 15 Connecticut teachers chosen from among teachers across the state, Urbanowski is progressing to the interview stage of the program.

“All of us at AITE are thrilled and proud that Vin has been selected as a semifinalist in this very competitive process,” said AITE Principal Tina Rivera. “I am pleased that others recognize that he represents the best of this profession.”

The Connecticut Teacher of the Year selection process has three stages. In the first stage, all local nominee application packages are read and reviewed by members of the Selection Committee, which is chaired by 2011 Connecticut Teacher of the Year Finalist Cay Freeman. The committee rates the applications and selects the top-rated applicants as semifinalists.

The semifinalists move into the second stage, where they are interviewed and asked to make a presentation on a pre-assigned topic.

The three- to five-minute presentations and 30-minute interviews will take place this week in Hartford.

Four finalists will be selected from among the 15 semi-finalists to progress to the final stage of the Connecticut Teacher of the Year process.

In the final stage, a committee of 12 to 18 members will participate in classroom observations as well as interviews with parents, teachers, support staff, students, administrators and Board members. Following the visits to all finalists, the committee will select the Connecticut Teacher of the Year.